Floor-surfacing machine



G. w. MINUTH' FLOOR sunmcme mcnius Jan. 8, 1929.

Filed Rpril 28, 1927 O J? E8 Mzfizesses. 77

. I I f Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

GUSTAVE w. MINUTE, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, as'srerror. To ELECTRIC oman I mAcI-IINE 00., or cnrcaeo, ILLIuoIs. a conrona'rr-olv or ILLINOIS.

rnoonssnnmcnvs MACHINE.

Application filed April 28, 1927. Serial ivb. 187,190."

This invention relates to floor surfacing machines having a'power driven surfacing floor surfacing machine to prevent the forma I tion of beats which cause the surfacing" drum to jump.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan of the improved floor surfacing machine, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section and in dotted outline.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, part of the frame being broken away for the sake of c'learness.

Floor surfacin machines generally include a power driven rotatable abrading ele ment carried by a portable frame which is adapted to be trundled over the floor or other surface acted upon. The abrading element is generally driven by an electric motor mounted on the frame. In floor surfacing machines heretofore in use, the vibrations of the machine have set up a beat causing a periodical jump of the abrading element; which resulted in the formation of ridges in the surface acted upon. This objectionable beat of prior surfacing machines is eliminated in machines embodying the present invention, which include an improved form of resilient mounting for the surfacing drum which counteracts the mechanical vibrations. Improved means is also provided for supporting an abrad'ing disc in advance of the drum.

In the specific form shown, the improved floor surfacing machine comprises a portable frame 1, on which is journaled an abrading drum 2 and disc 3 arranged to be driven by an electric motor 4, which is supported on top of the frame and detachably secured thereto 'by-bolts 5 or other suitable fastening means.

The frame or housing 1 is preferably a metal casting having a-horizontal top- 6, on-

which the motor is supported, and vertical supporting wheels 8. wheel 9 is swiveled to the rear end of the frame. v and constituting substantially av part thereof, 1s a post 1Q having a handle 11 atii-ts upper end whereby the machine may be 'trundled.

Supported in the sides 7 of the frame 1-, Isa transversely disposed horizontal shaft 12, on whichis pivoted a pair of levers13 ar Mounted at the rear of the frame ranged at respectively opposite sides of the frame. The forward ends of the levers form bearings 14 for supporting the surf'ac ing drum 2. Projecting forwardly from the 'bearings'le, are, extensions 15 having buffer pads 16 to prevent the drum from contacting with the molding or walls of the the abrading disc 3 is not used.

The rear ends of the levers 13 are in" the form of resilient arms 17, which are con-v nected at their outer ends to a cross bar 18.

The members 13, 17 and 18 constitute virtually a resilient unitary yoke for supporting drum 2. Yleld'ing' pressure is applied to the room when abrading drum by means of a spring- 119,

which acts in tension between the resilient spring 19 is connected to the cross bar 18 arms 17 and the frame; and its otherend has a bolt 20 extending endwi'se therefrom and :having' a wing nut 21 engaging a bracket 22 mounted on the One end of the handle post 10. The nut 21 permitsan adjustment of the spring tension.

Thedrum 2 is adapted to be raised from the floor by a push rod 23 which is con nected at its lower end to the crass bar 18'." The upper end of the rod 23 is pivoted to an operating handle 24 which is pivoted at 25 to the post 10. The handle 245 isadapted to'be clamped in position for holding the v drum out of contact with the floor by a friction plate 26 mounted onv the post" 10 and having the usual thumb 'nut 27', Toraise drum 2 the operator presses down on'the right end of handle 24:.

Mounted in the frame 1, is a suctionfan 28 having an inlet nozzle 29 extending to a point adjacent the periphery of the drum for removing the dust which is then drawn 60 sides 7, 1n whrch is journaled a pair of front Another supportinginto the fan and expelled through a fpipe 30 mounted on the frame. Suspended rom the outlet of the pipe 30, is a dust bag 31.

The drum 2 and fan 28 are connected to the motor 4 by chains or belts 32 and 33 respectively. t

Mounted on the frame 1, is a supportlng plate or bracket 34 which is detachably secured to the top 6 by bolts 35 or other suitable fastening means. Mounted on theforward end of the bracket 34, is a bearing 36,

in which is iournaled anupright spindle 37 to which the disc sander 3 is secured. The

upper end of the spindle 37 engages a bell crank lever 38 pivoted on a post 39 which is supported on the bracket 34. Connected to the bell crank lever is an operating rod 40' which is ,operatedby means of a handle 41 for raising and lowering the disc 3. The handle 41 is pivoted to. the post 10 so as to be operable by one hand While the other hand of the operator grasps the handle bar 11. The spindle 37 is connected to the motor 4 by a chain'or belt 42 and intermediate gearing 43.

In operation, when it is desired to use the drum 2, the handle 24 is released so to let the rod 23 move upward and so perm-it the drum to settle and adjust itself to theirregularitiesin the floor. The yielding connec tion through. members 17 and 19 between the drum and frame causes a yielding pressure'to be applied to the drum and the differential connection of the springs to the yoke bar 18 permits the drum to t1lt laterally to conform to irregularities in the surface.

The vibrations of the machine are counteracted by the unitary yoke having resilient arms 17 so as to prevent the customary beats modate said tool to'fioor irregularities; the

combination with a vertically rockable leverage yoke the arms of which are fulcrumed medially of their length on said frame and said" yoke holding the ends of said tool rotatably on its arm tips, of yielding means urging the bowed end of the yoke upward to to operate said tool, and manual means to raise and lower said tool, said frame having fulcrums whereon said yoke 1s plvoted at medial polnts on its arms respectlvely, re-

silient means connecting the arm-joining part of saidyoke to said frame and urging said arm-joining part upward, and the lat ter being connected to said manual means, said tool belng carried by and between the free ends of the yoke arms, and the'latter.

being resilient.

3. In a floor finishing machine the combination of a. portable frame with a U-shaped yoke tiltably mounted on said frame, a tool carried by said yoke to act on the floor, power means to operate said tool, the latter being carried by and between the free ends of the yoke arms, said frame having fulcrums whereon sa d yoke is pivoted at medial points on its arms respectively'and adjustable manual means to rock said yoke as a whole and so raise and lower said tool, said yoke arms being resilient, to accommodate limited rocking of said tool responsive to floor unevenness, and a spring arranged adjustably to urge the tool bearing end of said yoke downward more or less strongly according to the work requirements.

4. In a floor finishing machine the combi* nation of a portable frame having an upstanding post thereon for manual guiding, with a U-shaped yoke tiltably mounted on said frame, a tool carried by said yoke to act on the floor, power means to operate said tool, the latter being carried by and between the free ends of the yoke arms, said frame having fulcrums whereon said yoke is pivoted at medial points on its arms re spectively and manual means to rock said yoke and so raise and lower said tool, the

bowed part of said yoke being connected to said manual rocking means, said yoke arms being resilient, and a spring on said post arranged to urge the tool bearing end of'said yoke downward.

Sgned'at Chicago this 25th day of April, 192

GUSTAVE W. MINUTH.

CERTIFICATE or CORREGTIQN. Patent No. 1,698,554. Granted January 8, 1929, to

GUSTAVE W. MINUTE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3., line 88, Strike out the words spring 19 is connected to the cross bar 18 and insert the same to ioliow after the words "One end of the" in line 89; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of February, A. l). 1929.

. M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

